Andrew Zimmern's Bizarre World of Food: Brains, Bugs, and Blood Sausage

by Andrew Zimmern

Have you ever thought about eating giant flying ants? Or raw camel kidneys? Well, read on to watch Andrew Zimmern not only eat these unique and gross foods, but live to tell the tale about the people, places, and adventures he's had while roaming the world in search of new and exciting meals.
Zimmern takes readers from country to country, visiting local markets, participating in cultural feasts, and chasing down native wildlife to taste what each country has to offer, and discovering what is most authentic about each place he visits and the amazing information he receives while traveling to these countries.
And you can too! Come along on Andrew's amazing adventures and learn fun facts about the animals he encounters, the people he meets, and the places he explores. You'll also find cool recipes to try at home. So let Andrew Zimmern be your guide as he takes you around the world, eating his way through foods one couldn't even dream of eating, while celebrating the undiscovered destinations and weird wonders still taking place today.

Genres: Food, Nonfiction, Travel, Humor

208 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

Andrew Randy Sean Zimmern (born July 4, 1961 in New York City) is a James Beard Award-winning TV personality, chef, food writer, and teacher. As the co-creator, host, and consulting producer of Travel Channel's series Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern and Andrew Zimmern's Bizarre World, he travels the world exploring food in its own native region, wherever it is found. He also hosts the show "Dining with Death" which explains some of the foods that could cause death.

Reviews

[Abby Irwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the stories in this book and the way he ties life lessons into each chapter is amazing. Great book!

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

My son loved it, and only after his insistence, I gave it a shot. I'm glad I did!

It just goes to show that mom shouldn't always choose the books! When this book came in the mail, there were equal amounts of cries of "Ewww!", squeals of delight, and quiet moments of reading. My older son excitedly read especially gross passages aloud to my younger son...only to free me of any appetite I might have had. He also read aloud some interesting facts he thought I would appreciate.

For those of you who are not addicted to the Travel Channel, Andrew Zimmern hosts a show called Bizarre Foods, now in its 6th season. He travels around the world experiencing exotic cultures and cuisine we Americans would probably never eat. His book brings his show right to the audience who would appreciate it most - fearless Middle Grade readers.

I have to be honest, my son read more of the captions in the fact bubbles throughout the book rather than read each chapter word-for-word. If there was a topic that was particularly interesting, he read more of these few chapters. I was okay with this, especially since he was a bit younger than the recommended age 10 and up.

Bizarre Food is not just for kids! There are travel tips and tricks sprinkled throughout the book that we could all benefit from - tips on choosing street food, being sensitive to sacred cows in Hindu cultures, and which hand to eat with as to not insult your host in India (use your right hand!).

There are a few photographs printed in the book, courtesy of The Travel Channel. Even though some of the more bizarre foods made me squeamish, we all wished there were more pictures throughout the book, instead of only in the middle.

This was a great book of Bizarre Food for the whole family! The best part? We ALL learned a few things!

[Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid, interesting read for it's grade level, but I think I'll enjoy his adult books more. While there are a few dishes that the sound of grossed me out, most were in the FAQ section at the back of the book. The majority of the foods he eats in the main part of the book actually sounded quite good, albeit a bit more adventurous than the steak & potatoes crowd is used to. (Yes, this includes my family - I love trying new things, but getting my dad & bro to try them takes an effort.) I think Zimmern did a really good job of introducing kids to the ideas of new foods, and making them sound appealing. It's a good way to help kids expand their [food] horizons.

One annoying thing is he gives a few temperatures out at the start of the book, and it's always Fahrenheit. Yeah, the book is probably U.S. published, but they can't have expected that to be the only place it would sell. I'd think they'd HOPE it would sell elsewhere. And given that the U.S. is in the minority in using the Fahrenheit system, I'd think they'd at least put the Celsius temperature in the text in addition to it.

It's a quick read, really (I've had no attention span for books for the last few weeks, despite the pile of library books taunting me). I'd definitely recommend it to someone who wants some armchair travel, especially the Foodies. It's a good intro to his writing, and like me, you can always pick up one of his adult books after finishing this one. Parents who want to give picky eaters a nudge might find it worth a try as well - Zimmern makes even some usually gross-sounding food appealing, and after a few of the more out-there descriptions, Mom's meatloaf can't possibly seem THAT bad! :D

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Watching Bizarre foods as a teen changed my perspective and approach to trying new foods, which has been a blessing as a military dependent as we've traveled and lived around the world. Whenever I'm nervous, I remember his advice to always take two bites. This has led me to enjoy some pretty wild dishes some of my favorites including balut, fufu dipped into a soup of mysterious "mixed meat", crickets, escargot, and black rice pudding. I'm always on the hunt to try something new, which is why I was so excited to read this autobiography before we move to a remote island that's only a quick plane ride to several countries in SouthEast Asia. Unfortunately, food from our island wasn't featured, but I took lots of notes in hopes we might visit the areas Zimmern toured.
I've tried durian twice-- once in a chocolate form that made my entire suitcase smell like stinky socks and once frozen in a dessert (reminded me of blue cheese that might have sat in the fridge with pineapple). I was hoping this book might help me find a way to appreciate it, but it seems that Zimmern hasn't cracked that one yet. I'm going to try it fresh one last time and hope for better results.
I still find it odd that he can describe something as tasting "spoiled" or "rancid" and still describe the food as an "addictive snack." I don't think I'll ever be quite that brave

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was pretty great! I enjoyed reading about all the weird things he eats, much more than actually watching it on TV! This book left me with a definite urge to travel, and to get out and experience the world more. A lovely foodie book, and a lovely traveler's book!

[Tina Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me a long time to finish this book because I just lost my desire to read for a while. However, I really enjoy Andrew Zimmern’s shows and engaging personality. This book is fascinating and a little bit gross; I think kids would REALLY enjoy it!

[Doris Mei · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought that this book was not that bad because it showed me a lot about the character or author, Andrew Zimmern. Andrew has learned a lot about the cities or places he has been to. I have learned that Andrew is a really daring and brave person. In the book it says, "I was in water up to forty feet deep and fighting a ferocious current. In this part of the Pacific, you need to be careful not to get too close to the shore or the rolling surf will smash you against the rocks" (61). That shows that he was in the water where it was really dangerous and took a chance. He knew that there was going to be a dangerous part when looking at fish in the Pacific. I liked how Andrew was actually brave unlike other people. I would have never done what he did. Andrew is't even afraid to do or eat anything. I would have been terrified to eat something I never ate before.

[Avery · Rating 5 out of 5]

at the begining of the book andrew zimmern as a small boy goes around the world with his dad. he eats at different countrys and his dad travels lots of places. when he gets older he keeps on going he travels many different places. eventualy he has been everywhere. he still has not ate everything. he recaps in this book about some of his strangest encounters. such as getting offered digested food from a cows stomach. he also tells about his adventures in travelling. he says that with each travel a new danger pops up. in his travel to indonesia he was threatened in the airport if he had medicine he would get shot. he says this is just one of the many threats he has had. he also tells in the end about going around america and finding weird food right here. in the very end he raps up the book with his signature saying if it looks good eat it.

[Christiane · Rating 1 out of 5]

I thought I would really enjoy this, and also that it might be fun to take along to school visits next year. However I knew I was in the trouble in the first few pages, when I had to struggle through lines like: "My mom and I spent summers at the beach house and managed to get to a warm-weather island at least once every year..." (from the introduction) and "I knew that this great test of my manhood was not going to get any easier." (from chapter 1). I'm afraid I took a dislike to Mr. Zimmern that made it impossible for me to slog through 188 pages of him eating his way around the world, in a way cooler manner than you or I ever could. Still, I am sure that teens interested in world travel or cooking, or even just in eating yucky things, could enjoy this book.

[Jonathan Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was really enjoying to read because I learned about so many exotic foods and where to get them. Some examples are the lobsters at five islands,maine, the laksa at Singapore, and the wen hang chickens in Guangzhou. The main idea of this book was to tell where the best and most blizzard foods are what and where in Andrew Zimmern's point of view. This book did that very successfully by showing pictures that were provided by travel channel, the fun facts that explain what and where certain foods are, and by having boxes that explain the traditions of the people who cook them. This book was also very funny and gross because andrew didn't leave out any unpleasant moments at all! Overall this book is just as great as its tv counterpart, so I give it five out of five stars.

[Kami · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was great. It has taught many great things. One message was that you should actually go to the place that a certain dish was originated from to get the best. For example, Andrew went to Singapore and ate laksa, or noodles, and he loved it. The text said, "That's an American take on Chinese food, something you often find at food courts. I occasionally indulge in this all-you-can-eat buffet-style Chinese food, but trust me, real Chinese food it isn't" (123). This quote shows that other countries wouldn't make real food if they're trying to make food originated from another place. This book was great in my opinion because of how it makes me want to travel. It made me want to eat the food described. This book can improve on detail for some parts. Overall, this book was fun to read.

[Heidi Schaap · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun little book from the man behind the show we love. Enjoyable as a read-aloud to the kiddos!

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a vegetarian, it was a little unnerving, but I just paid more attention to the travelogue portion of the narrative which included many places I'd like to visit.

[Mayumi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love his show and this was a great behind the scenes look. I wouldn't personally try a lot of these foods, but his journeys and the people he meets are amazing.

[Colleen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mehhh. Some of the food tips and stories were cool. Most of it was boring.